Skype users hit by 'worm' malware

Skype users have been hit by a 'worm' used by hackers to distribute trojan horses to PCs.

There have been reports of users receiving instant messages saying "lol is this your new profile pic?" which infects their computers with malware when clicked.

Once the Trojan horse has been installed, hackers can gain access to the infected machine and hold the users to ransom or use it as part of a 'botnet' network, which are used to distribute spam and malware on a wide scale.

Internet security specialist Sophos identified the malware as a variation of the well-known 'Dorkbot' worm, which has been distributed through social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

Microsoft-owned Skype said in a statement that it is working to tackle the problem and advised users to download its latest updates to make the platform more secure.

"Skype takes the user experience very seriously, particularly when it comes to security. We are aware of this malicious activity and are working quickly to mitigate its impact," the company said in a statement.

"We strongly recommend upgrading to the newest Skype version and applying updated security features on your computer. Additionally, following links - even when from your contacts - that look strange or are unexpected is not advisable."

Sophos is also investigating the breaches following reports that it has seen escalation.